NEWS DUE TO THE POWER OUTAGE IN ROYALTON- THERE IS NO SCHOOL AT ROYALTON ELEMENTARY TODAY.
--The first major winter storm of the season is in the books with lots of snow, wind, accidents, power outages and postponments. The Little Falls Airport reported 5.5 inches. Around 5-6 inches at the radio station, but other parts of the county and central Minnesta saw over a foot near Randall and Cushing, another foot reported near Brainerd and over 20 inches of snow in the Motley/Leader area. The Morrison County Sheriff's said they had a hard time keeping up with all the calls for service because of the multiple vehicles in the ditch throughout Morrison County. They received a couple vehicle rollover calls but no reports of any serious injuries. Sgt. Neil Dickenson of the State Patrol said through the day on Friday they received in their district Duluth to Brainerd over 75 accidents, 5 with injuries, 1 serious and none fatal. Most accidents were from spinouts and cars in ditches. Parts of Royalton, Buckman, southern Little Falls, Nisswa, Pine River, Backus, Walker and Hackensack were without power most of the day and into the night due to downed power pole from 50-60 mile an hour winds and 5-10 inches of snow. Over 7,000 were without power into the night which was worked on diligently by Minnesota Power and other crews. Plow crews continued to work on moving snow throughout the entire weekend on roadways. Many events got postponed including the Alan Jackson concert Saturday night which was moved to 2017 where all tickets for the show cancelled Saturday will be honored at the rescheduled date. As one storm leaves us Saturday another is coming tomorrow starting through the day and into tomorrow night and Wednesday bringing another round of heavy snow which will be out of here by Thursday for a dry and 42 degree Thanksgiving Day.
--Crossroads Center Mall was lockdowned and evacuated Thursday night after a gun was seen in a waistband of a man outside the mall. St. Cloud Police were called to the facility after an argument between two men started and one man lifted his shirt to expose a gun. The gun was never pointed at anyone, no threats of using the gun were made and no injuries have been reported. The mall was opened on Friday. The incident reported just after 6:00pm ended shortly after officers arrived. Criminal charges are pending in the case.
--The Foley Police department has closed the investigation of the death of 35-year old Jason Beaufeaux of Foley after final autopsy results showed he died of an accidental drowning. A citizen reported finding what was later identified as Beaufueax's body near Lions Park in Foley on September 12th. Evidence at the scene indicated Beaufeaux was deceased for several days. On Friday, Foley police received the final report from the Midwest Medical Examiners office who conducted the autopsy. The case is now closed.
--A 31-year-old Bena man has been charged in a car accident that killed his passenger October 29th near Walker. Phillip Nelson was charged in Cass County District Court with three felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide. Nelson was illegally under the influence of alcohol on October 29th when his vehicle ran off Highway 200 at a high rate of speed and rolled several times. His passenger 23-year-old Samuel Wilson was dead at the scene.
--Due to the weather Friday both the Shrek the Musical in Pierz and the Saturday Night Live (SNL) Tribute show in Upsala have been moved to tonight at 7pm at their respected high schools.
--Brainerd firefighters were called out Friday to a fire at Dean's Auto Parts on Evergreen Drive South in Baxter. Emergency responders battled the blizzard like conditions for several hours but could not save the 50 year old business along with a family owned vehicle. According to the son of the owner, no customer vehicles were inside the building when it burned around 6:15pm. The cause is still under investigation. The fire was through fireballs into the air and caused nearby evergreen trees to smolder and start on fire but no other structures were threatened or damaged from the blaze.
--People in Cold Spring will dedicate a memorial garden for officer Tom Decker, who was killed in the line of duty, on the fourth anniversary of his death. Decker, an officer for the Cold Spring-Richmond Police Department, was shot and killed while working in downtown Cold Spring November 29th, 2012. A ceremony will be at 6:00pm on Tuesday, November 29th in front of Cold Spring City Hall. The centerpiece of the garden is a granite monument placed on a granite stone with an image of Decker carved into it.
--The 40th annual IMC Band Concert for Little Falls Community High School is tonight and tomorrow at 7:00pm at the Charles D. Martin Auditorium. The event features light shows and lots of music and entertainment for the 90 minute show to enjoy. Only general admission tickets this year which are $8 for adults and $4 for both students and senior citizens. Tickets are only available at the door.
--The Pierz Minnesota Honor Society is putting on their annual Turkey Trot run Thanksgiving Thursday at 8:15am registration, 5K walk/run begins at 8:30am at the High School in Pierz. $15 is registration and all proceedes go to Make a Wish Foundation. Everyone is welcome.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --David and Tera Cichon of Little Falls, girl on November 15th
DEATH NOTICES --Erland Yatckoske, age 88 of Pierz. --June L. Beseman, age 82 of Swanville.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, high 32. TONIGHT= snow after midnight, low around 25. TUESDAY= snow likely 2-5 inches by Wed morn, high 32, low 29. WEDNESDAY= snow before noon, then sun late, high 33, low 26. THANKSGIVING= mostly cloudy, high 33, snow overnight, low 25.
SPORTS PIERZ= Pierz football season ended Saturday with a 35-28 loss to St. Croix Lutheran in the state semi-finals. Earlier Saturday, Browerville-Eagle Valley had their season ended in a 49-0 loss to Rushford-Peterson. Prep Bowl Friday and Saturday at U.S. Bank. NFL= Vikings get a 104 yard kickoff return and a 100 yard interception to hold off Arizona 30-24 Sunday. Vikings are 6-4 and will travel to 6-4 Detroit Thanksgiving Day, coverage at 11am on KLTF. COL FB= Gophers beat Northwestern Saturday 29-12. The Gophers are now 8-3 and wrap up regular season Saturday at Wisconsin. SWIM= Congratulations to Alice Foote of Little Falls for finishing 8th in 50 freestyle (24.45); and sixth in 100 freestyle in a time of 53.26 at the State Swimming and Diving meet last week. Kasey Milstroh of Foley a double state champion. She Won 100 and also 200 freestyle